All tagged Sri Lanka

Best Online Booking Services for Trains, Buses, and Ferries in Asia

Booking train, bus and ferry tickets in Asia can be difficult if you are not familiar with the routes and transport operators, but online booking apps and websites can make the task much easier. But with hundreds of such online ticketing platforms vying for your business, how can you tell which are the best ones to use. We take a look at reviews of these sites to determine which are the most reliable.

Destinations in Asia that are Worth Revisiting

Asia has many destinations that often exceed our expectations, and when we leave, we lament that we did not spend more time there. Here are seven of those special places that draw travellers back and to which the xyzAsia travel writers believe are worth the time and money to go back in preference to travelling to somewhere new. They are all destinations worth revisiting.

PCR Tests: The Bane of International Travel

Anyone travelling internationally these days knows about the hassles involved in getting PCR tests completed within the right timeframe. Many travellers have missed flights because their test certificates didn't arrive in time. But it’s not just timing that’s important — it’s the format of the test certificate too. If the format doesn’t match the entry requirements of the country to which you are travelling, you may be denied boarding.

Dreaming of Far-flung Asian Escapes

As many are starting to plan post-Covid travel and look for destinations where contact can be minimised with others, the appeal of remote retreats is greater than it has ever been. Asia has many such escapes along its thousands of kilometres of remote coasts and jungle interiors, especially for those looking to combine luxury with a little adventure.

Asia’s Best Religious Sites to Visit

Asia is blessed with many of the world’s greatest religious sites, some dating back centuries. While the finest of them enjoy near-universal acclaim, others are less well-known, and many people will have visited sites that mean something special to them. Here are 12 of the best to visit ranging from the famous to some lesser known.

An Older Female Travelling Solo in Asia

Travelling solo in Asia may not be for everyone – especially for older females – but for those who enjoy time on their own, it can be liberating and rewarding. It enables you to travel at your own pace, do what you want to do, when you want, and change your schedule whenever you feel like it. With a few sensible safety precautions, solo travel in Asia can be a safe and enjoyable experience for anyone.

10 Best Places for Hot Air Ballooning in Asia

Asia has a surprisingly good number of locations where it is possible to take hot air balloon flights. Drifting over a scenic landscape as the sun rises is both exciting and relaxing, and many travellers who are nervous about flying or suffer vertigo in tall buildings have said that flying in a hot air balloon was one of their most exhilarating experiences ever. It’s a wonderful way to see places from a new perspective.

Best Virtual Tours of Asia to Experience from Home

During periods that we are unable to travel because of coronavirus lockdowns, closed borders or quarantine restrictions, there is only one way to satisfy the travel bug — and that’s through virtual travel from our computers and tablets. We take a look at which websites offer the best virtual travel experiences for when we are stuck at home.

Stranded in Asia: Travellers Blame Airlines for Premature Cancellations

With thousands of international travellers still stranded in Asia, those affected are placing the blame squarely on airlines who prematurely cancelled flights and provided no alternative options for them to get home. Slow and disorganised responses by some governments in mounting repatriation flights have also come in for criticism. However, with death tolls still increasing in the U.S. and some European countries, some travellers have decided to sit out the pandemic in Asia.

6 of Tropical Asia's Best Colonial Hotels

As tropical Asia hurtles into the future, much of its colonial heritage is being lost. But reminders of those times are being preserved in the form of some fine old hotels that have been renovated and converted into luxury accommodation. They’re likely to appeal to anyone with an interest in Asia’s colonial history. We take a look at six of them. If staying there is beyond your budget, you can always go for a meal or a drink and take a look around.

Flying a Camera Drone in Asia: Risks and Regulations

There are only 10 countries in Asia that allow travellers to use camera drones without a permit. In about 20 others, the process of acquiring permits ranges from relatively easy to extremely hard. In many others, recreational flying of drones is banned. Even in countries where drones are permitted, there are many no-fly zones and regulations that have to be followed. Penalties for breaching drone laws can be heavy fines or even imprisonment. This article summarises where you can and cannot fly drones in Asia.

Sampling Asia’s Locally-Made Drinks

For those who enjoy a tipple, one of the pleasures of travelling in Asia is sampling some of the locally-produced drinks. A wide selection of alcoholic drinks is available, with many countries producing not only their own beer and wine but a sometimes surprising range of spirits. 

Searching for the Best Value Beach Resorts in Asia

Looking for the best value beach resorts in Asia? Identifying those that might qualify for that title can be quite a challenge. Online searches are dominated by commercial listings and fake travel blog posts. Room rates and resort reviews can change from good to bad in only a few years. Here are some tips to help you search for places that offer value for money for senior travellers.

In the Hill Country: Walks near Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka’s Hill Country is ideal for walking, with its many hiking trails, cool weather and exceptional views. In the heart of the region is Nuwara Eliya, once a colonial hill station and now a busy city that has retained something of its English flavour. The surrounding tea plantations offer memorable hikes. It’s also perfectly situated for the walk to World’s End in Horton Plains National Park, one of the Hill Country’s most spectacular hiking destinations.